Some Pics from Ishigaki Island

Me at the northernmost point of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, December 2006. It looks so beautiful, don't you agree?

This is chanpuru, an Okinawan dish made of noodles called soumen, vegetables, and some kind of meat I can't remember at this time. Anyway, I recommend it.

Another food I recommend if you ever go to Ishigaki is sa-ta-andagii, which looks and tastes like a donut hole. By far the best place to eat it is a shop called Sayoko, about one kilometer or so upland from the harbor. We couldn't get enough of it.

More From Iriomote

Having fun on Yufu Island, just off of the coast of Iriomote Island, Okinawa, December 2006. Yufu Island is a small island with a few beaches, a lot of plants, and a souvenir shop (what place in Japan doesn't have one?).

The best way to get to Yufu Island is by carriages pulled by water buffalo, which don't mind crossing the kilometer or so of shallow water. Quite scenic. Of course, you could walk, too, if you don't mind getting your feet wet.

Another sign telling us to watch out for the endangered Iriomote wild cat.

Pictures from Iriomote Island

A few cows on Iriomote Island, a sparsely-populated island just west of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, December 2006.

A sign warning me to watch out for Iriomote wild cats, called Iriomote yamaneko in Japanese.

A model of an Iriomote wild cat. Looks like a regular house cat to me, but I guess there are differences.

More from Taketomi Island

More pictures from Taketomi Island near Ishigaki, Japan, December 2006.

Me standing near a shii-saa statue at someone's house.

A water buffalo cart on Taketomi. They're not free; you have to pay to ride them.

Is This a Karate Kid Set?

I have a lot of pictures I need to catch up on, and this is the first one, taken during our trip to Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, in December 2006. This is actually on a little island to the west of Ishigaki called Taketomi, a beautiful little island with just one small village. I'm surprised that they even had electricity. There are no street lights or street signs on the whole island. Amazing!